SEMICON Taiwan, one of the leading exhibitions in the global semiconductorindustry, is scheduled to open on Sept. 18 with a tech think tank forum to bethe focus, due to the presence of many industrial heavyweights, according tothe organizer SEMI.

SEMI, a global industry association of companies that serves themanufacturing supply chain in the electronics industry, said SEMICON Taiwan,which will run through Sept. 20 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, willput much emphasis on high-end technology development, tech integration andindustrial sustainability.

The organizer said the upcoming event will highlight a wide range oftechnologies.

Free E-visas Introduced for Taiwanese Visiting St. Petersburg

Posted on 2019-09-14 15:13:13

Taiwanese travelers will be able to visit Saint Petersburg, Russia'ssecond-largest city after Moscow, with a free single-entry e-visa startingOct. 1, according to an order signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the announcement the Russian government made on Friday, a totalof 53 nationalities are eligible for an e-visa to visit the city, includingJapan, Singapore and Malaysia.

The visa will be valid for 30 days and allows an eight-day stay in the SaintPetersburg area.

Taiwanese National Still Missing More Than a Year After Entering China

Posted on 2019-09-14 14:18:14

The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) has confirmed that a Taiwanese nationalis still missing more than a year after entering China.

The SEF said that Tsai Chin-shu, chairman of the South Taiwan Cross-StraitRelations Association, which promotes cross-Taiwan Strait interaction, hasnot been heard from for more than a year since he went to Xiamen in July2018.

The SEF confirmation came after political commentator Chiang Min-chin claimedin a talk show Thursday that Tsai was detained by China due to securityconcerns.

The SEF said it has asked its Chinese counterpart, the Association forRelations Across the Taiwan Straits, to help locate the missing person buthas not received a reply.

The Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) is a flagship event organized by the NewYork-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF) that takes place each year in Norwayto promote human rights and democracy globally and support struggles againstauthoritarianism.

The gathering in Taipei was a satellite event of the OFF under the theme"unite."

Taiwan Issues NZ Travel Warning Over Measles Outbreak

Posted on 2019-09-14 12:11:13

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a travel warning to itscitizens Friday over a measles outbreak in New Zealand, urging those wishingto visit the country to exercise caution, especially those with children whoare not vaccinated or who are under 1 year of age.

According to CDC Deputy Director-General Lo Yi-chun, 1,214 people have beeninfected between Jan. 1 and Sept. 12, making it New Zealand's worst measlesepidemic since 1997.

Lo said the outbreak is mainly concentrated around the country's biggestcity, Auckland, in the North Island, with 1,007 of the confirmed casesreported there.

He added that in the past four weeks, more than 60 percent of the confirmedcases have been in Manukau, a suburb of South Auckland.

Children under 4 years of age and individuals aged between 20 and 29 havebeen most affected by the outbreak, Lo said, adding that more than 30 percentof the confirmed cases have required hospitalization.

Also, more than 90 percent of the confirmed cases had not been fullyvaccinated against the disease.

Military Apologizes Over Target Practice Mishap

Posted on 2019-09-14 11:12:13

The military said Friday that it has extended a formal apology to a residentof Hsinchu County after a round from a .50-caliber heavy machine gun duringtarget practice went astray, damaging the roof of the homeowner.

No injuries were reported.

According to the 6th Army Corps, the incident took place a day earlier whenits 33 Chemical Warfare Group was conducting target practice with the heavymachine gun at a military training camp in Guanxi.

Col. Li Yu-sen commander of the warfare group, said the bullet veered twokilometers from its target and punched a hole through the roof of thebuilding.

A round from a .50-caliber has a range of 1,000-2,000 meters, Li said, addingthat the bullet most likely ricocheted off a rock or other hard object.

The officer said the incident was the first he had encountered in his 22years of service.

Sun Moon Lake Cycling Event

Posted on 2019-09-14 11:12:13

The Taiwan Cyclist Federation is gearing up for its annual Sun Moon Lakecycling event.

There are three separate events for competitors of all levels.

The most challenging is a 30-kilometer ride that circumnavigates the lake,and is open to all riders over 15 years old for a maximum of 1-thousandparticipants.

Next there's the Sun Moon Lake Bike Trail Fun Ride, which is open to all agesfor a total of 500 riders.

And for young riders aged 2 to 6, the federation will also have theChildren's Push Bike Competition.

Registration can be done online at www.cyclist.org.tw, and is open untilSeptember 30th.

Smallest Full Moon of Year Expected After Mid-Autumn Festival

Posted on 2019-09-13 15:06:14

The smallest full moon of 2019 is expected Saturday, one day after theMid-Autumn Festival.

The Taipei Astronomical Museum says the astronomical full moon does notcoincide with the festival this year.

The full moon will be at its smallest as it reaches the furthest point in itselliptical obit of the Earth, at a distance of over 406-thousand kilometers.

Compared with the largest full moon of the year in February, the upcomingfull moon will be about 14 percent smaller as seen by the naked eye, which isroughly the difference between the size of a $5 and $1 NT coin.

The Mid-Autumn Festival will not coincide with the smallest astronomical fullmoon again until Septeber 24th of the year 2037.

Weather conditions for moon watching are likely to be fair in most parts ofthe country as cloudy to clear skies are forecast for today, with the moon ispredicted to rise at 5:46 p.m..

The moon will reach its zenith at 11:35 p.m., and then fall at 5:28 a.m.

This comes amid speculation Honiara is set to shift recognition from Taipeito Beijing.

The meeting discussed a report submitted by a crossparty task force whichrecommends the nation should cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

According to the report, the task force recommends the Solomon Islandsgovernment switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China bymid-September, before Beijing celebrates the 70th anniversary of the People'sRepublic of China on October 1.

The Solomon Islands, one of Taiwan's 17 diplomatic allies, has been reviewingbilateral ties since its new government took office in April.

Before making a final decision on whether the country will shift recognitionto China, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will review fourgovernment reports on the situation.

Sogavare is scheduled to depart for the General Assembly of the UnitedNations on Saturday and is expected to meet with U.S. Vice President MikePence.

Because of this pro-China Solomon lawmakers expressed hope that the primeminister will make a decision on ties with Taiwan before his departure in abid to avoid any attempt by Washington to exert influence.

(PB)

Taipei Smart Parking Starts Sept. 16

Posted on 2019-09-13 14:05:13

Taipei traffic officials are gearing up to roll out smart parking facilities.

Starting next Monday, there will be over 2-thousand 200 smart parking spotsavailable in the Da-an and Zhong-zheng districts.

The parking spaces are equipped with sensors that can detect how long avehicle has been parked, and the fee notifications will be QR codes that canbe scanned for more details and for online payment.

The first ten minutes of parking will be free, and drivers who use digitalpayment methods will get a 10 percent discount.

Traffic officials are also releasing an app to make finding parking spaceseasier, and they expect it will shave five to ten minutes off the search forparking.

(EG)

Tsai Confident in Upcoming Election

Posted on 2019-09-13 13:06:13

The incumbent president says she's confident in her chances for the upcomingelection.

Tsai Ing-wen says she will keep a steady head, and focus on domestic politicsfor now, rather than worry about the challenge from the KMT and possiblyTerry Guo.

Hon Hai founder Guo recently announced he was leaving the KMT party,signaling a possible run for the presidency as an independent candidate.

Some people have suggested he could pull moderate voters away from the DPPand KMT parties, but Tsai says she's not phased by this, saying the KMTapparently didn't finished its primary process back in July.

However, the president also warned that if she is not re-elected, Taiwan willtake a step closer to "One China" and will suffer a loss to its sovereignty.

(PB)

Sun Moon Lake Cycling Event

Posted on 2019-09-13 13:06:13

The Taiwan Cyclist Federation is gearing up for its annual Sun Moon Lakecycling event.

There are three separate events for competitors of all levels.

The most challenging is a 30-kilometer ride that circumnavigates the lake,and is open to people of all riders over 15 years old for a maximum of1-thousand participants.

Next there's the Sun Moon Lake Bike Trail Fun Ride, which is open to all agesfor a total of 500 riders.

And for young riders aged 2 to 6, the federation will also have theChildren's Push Bike Competition.

Registration can be done online at www.cyclist.org.tw, and is open untilSeptember 30th.

US Expert on Taiwan Gives Analysis of 2020 Election

Posted on 2019-09-13 12:06:13

A US expert on Taiwan's politics has given his analysis on the upcomingpresidential election.

Nathan Batto, a researcher at Taipei's Academia Sinica, was speaking at theCenter for Strategic & International Studies in Washington.

Batto says despite the DPP's defeat to the KMT in the 2018 local elections,he says incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen has fought back from a seriouspublic image problem to be around breaking even for satisfaction levels.

Batto adds the DPP should also earn the advantage of its association withTaiwanese rather than Chinese identity.

As for the KMT, Batto says they still believe the issue of the so-called "'92Consensus" is their golden ticket in the election.

The scholar also painted a less-than-optimistic picture of KMT nominee HanKuo-yu, who he said has been polling negatively for trust and satisfactionand whose appeal doesn't stretch much past his base.

Finally, Batto says Terry Guo, who recently left the KMT party, is likely torun as an independent, but he is something of an unknown factor with anunvetted political past and unknown possible scandals.

Joseph Wu says the promises of financial assistance are often not reliable,resulting in a country that recently cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan sinceseeking to re-establish relations.

China likes to use its financial pledges to lure away Taiwan's diplomaticallies, and foreign media have recently reported ties with the SolomonIslands have been shaky because of Beijing's promises to provide developmentassistance.

Taiwan does not know what pledges China has made to Honiara, but Wu saysbased on previous cases, China often breaks its promises.

Wu has also revealed there is a former ally that cut ties with Taiwan andswitched to Beijing in exchange for financial assistance, but now thatcountry regrets the decision and has since sought to re-establish ties withTaiwan because Beijing has failed to fulfill its multi-billion dollarpledges.

(PB)

EY Bill on Stamp Tax, Gov't Funding

Posted on 2019-09-13 11:05:13

The Executive Yuan has submitted a bill to scrap the stamp tax.

Aside from doing away with the long-standing tax, the bill also authorizesthe central government to make up the lost revenues to local governments forthe next several years.

The government would pay based on a stamp tax revenue of 10 to 12 billion NTreceived annually from 2016 to 2018.

A special budget will be required for these funds for next year, as the 2020general budget has already been approved.

The bill will now be sent to lawmakers to review during the coming session.

(EG)

EY: Public will Benefit from Scrapped Stamp Tax

Posted on 2019-09-13 11:05:13

The Executive Yuan says the public will feel the benefits of their efforts toabolish the stamp tax.

The tax is charged on many forms of business contracts, permits, andlicenses.

Taking housing transactions as an example, government officials note that thestamp tax is .1 percent of the transactions value.

So a housing sale valued at 200 million NT would save 20 thousand NT theywould no longer have to pay after the tax is scrapped.

The central government says the abolishment will not impact the housingmarket, but its effects will be felt by the public.

(EG)

Taipei Parade in Support of HK Protests

Posted on 2019-09-13 10:05:13

A parade will be held in Taipei this month in support of the protest movementin Hong Kong.

The event, called "929 Taiwan with Hong Kong: Support Hong Kong, OpposeTotalitarianism," will be held on September 29th with support from a list oflocal youth and human rights activist groups.

During a press conference outside the Legislative Yuan yesterday, arepresentative of the Citizen Front Taiwan group outlined the goals of thedemonstration.

Jiang Min-yan says they support the five demands as put forward bypro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong, they reject a one China peace deal,they want no restrictions on Hong Kong students leaving the territory, andthey want the Hong Kong government to release all arrested protestors.

They are also calling on Taiwan's government to establish a mechanism forpolitical refugees from Hong Kong and Macau.

Jiang says democracy is the system best able to protect personal freedoms andcivil society and he is calling on all people to stand up for Hong Kong'sdemocratic movement.

The event is scheduled to kick off at 3pm that Sunday next to the LegislativeYuan, circling past Taipei Main Station and Ximen District before returningback to the starting point.

(PB)

Pro-UN Group in Washington

Posted on 2019-09-13 10:05:13

A group dedicated to getting Taiwan into the United Nations is in New York topress its case.

The Taiwan-UN Alliance delegation is being led by former defense ministerMichael Tsai.

They will meet with members of Congress to gain support for Taiwan'sparticipation, and to pressure Beijing to release Lee Ming-che and MorrisonLee.

Both Lees are being in the mainland for allegedly violating its nationalsecurity laws.

Tsai says he will also ask Washington to change its policy toward Taiwan, ashigh-level Taiwanese officials like the president or defense minister cannotformally visit Washington, severely limiting political and militaryexchanges.

The delegation is also seeking support for Taiwan to be able to joininternational bodies like the World Health Organization as a full membercountry under its own name.

The 2018 film "Dear Ex" was submitted by the Ministry of Culture for BestInternational Feature Film at next year's Oscar's.

Until now, this award has been known as Best Foreign Language Film, and it isone of the Academy Awards handed out annually to predominantly non-Englishfeature-length motion pictures produced outside the United States.

"Dear Ex" portrays the story of a teenager who navigates a bitter feudbetween his mother and the same-sex lover of his father, who is also theinsurance beneficiary of his recently deceased father.

"Dear Ex" was nominated in eight award categories at the 2018 Golden HorseAwards, and won three.

The MOC says the film was selected from a total of 16 movies for "reflectingdiverse issues in gender in a popular and humorous way, and portraysmilestones and vitality in Taiwan's contemporary equal rights movement."

(PB)

NTU Ranked 120th Best University in the World

Posted on 2019-09-13 09:06:13

National Taiwan University has been ranked 120th best in the world.

Taiwan's elite university jumped 50 places on the list of nearly 1-thousand400 put out by the Times Higher Education magazine.

Published for the 16th year, the London-based magazine's World UniversityRankings 2020 measures performance of universities using 13 indicators infive main categories -- teaching, research, citations, international outlookand industry income.

NTU was among the 36 Taiwanese universities included in the report and sawthe greatest improvement in its ranking, with an overall score of 59.9points.

National Tsing Hua University and Taipei Medical University were ranked inthe 351-400 range.

According to the report, the University of Oxford was ranked first for thefourth year in a row, while the University of Cambridge fell to third.

(PB)

U.S., Taiwan Launch Consultations on Democratic Governance

Posted on 2019-09-13 08:05:13

The first ever U.S.-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance in theIndo-Pacific Region were launched in Taipei yesterday.

The annual forum is expected to serve as a mechanism to promote Taiwan'sinternational presence and good governance in the region.

In his opening statement, American Institute in Taiwan Director BrentChristensen said the mechanism is designed to formalize, regularize, anddeepen cooperation between the United States and Taiwan on good governanceissues.

The inaugural session of the consultations will tackle concrete ways to fullyincorporate Taiwan into the U.S. Indo-Pacific Transparency Initiative andpromote Taiwan as a model of good governance for the entire region.

Wu also slammed Beijing for its military pressure, influence operations anddisinformation campaign that seeks to undermine Taiwan's democracy andbelittle Taiwan as a role model for people in Hong Kong and China.

(PB)

KMT Lawmakers Blasting Gou for Leaving

Posted on 2019-09-13 08:05:13

KMT lawmakers are blasting Terry Gou for his decision to leave the party.

Lawmaker Tseng Ming-chung says Gou has broken the promises he made to theparty when he joined the party presidential primary.

Tseng says Gou vowed to support whoever won the primary, even if he lost.

Another party lawmaker, Apollo Chen, says Gou's departure is not surprising,as he only joined the KMT to give legitimacy to his presidential aspirations.

With Gou's leaving the party, lawmakers say the KMT now needs to consolidatethe support for their official candidate, especially from young and neutralvoters.

They say any cooperation with Gou is off the table now.

KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu's office has also issued a statement regarding Gou'sdeparture, saying it regrets and is disappointed by Gou's decision.

(EG)

NPM South Branch Lightshows

Posted on 2019-09-13 08:05:13

The National Palace Museum's southern branch is putting on lightshows to ringin the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Museum officials say starting today and lasting for two months there will betwice-weekly laser and light shows at the facility.

The shows will take place every Tuesday and Sunday night, every twentyminutes between six and 10 PM.

(EG)

EY: Public will Benefit from Scrapped Stamp Tax

Posted on 2019-09-12 19:13:13

The Executive Yuan says the public will feel the benefits of their efforts toabolish the stamp tax.

The tax is charged on many forms of business contracts, permits, andlicenses.

Taking housing transactions as an example, government officials note that thestamp tax is .1 percent of the transactions value.

So a housing sale valued at 200 million NT would save 20 thousand NT theywould no longer have to pay after the tax is scrapped.

The central government says the abolishment will not impact the housingmarket, but its effects will be felt by the public.

(EG)

More New Taipei Schools Report Food Poisoning

Posted on 2019-09-12 19:13:13

More New Taipei schools are reporting food poisoning.

72 students from from three schools have reported feeling unwell after eatingschool meals, 33 of whom sought medical treatment.

City health authorities have shut down the catering companies responsible forpreparing the school lunches as they investigate the case.

These companies serve a total of 54 schools, and they will not be allowed toresume operations until the investigation is complete and only if they meetstandards.

Health officials note that these two companies do not have a history ofhealth code violations, so these incidents could be result of one-timecircumstances.

(EG)

Pro-UN Group in Washington

Posted on 2019-09-12 17:06:13

A group dedicated to getting Taiwan into the United Nations has arrived inNew York to press its case.

The Taiwan-UN Alliance delegation is being led by former defense ministerMichael Tsai.

They will meet with members of the US Congress to gain support for Taiwan'sparticipation, and to pressure Beijing to release Lee Ming-che and MorrisonLee.

Both Lees are being held in the mainland for allegedly violating its nationalsecurity laws.

Tsai says he will also ask Washington to change its policy toward Taiwan, ashigh-level Taiwanese officials like the president or defense minister cannotformally visit Washington, severely limiting political and militaryexchanges.

The delegation is also seeking support for Taiwan to be able to joininternational bodies like the World Health Organization as a full membercountry under its own name.

(EG)

6 Indicted for Violating N. Korea Sanctions

Posted on 2019-09-12 17:06:13

Six Taiwan nationals have been indicted for allegedly violating internationalsanctions targetting North Korea.

The six are accused of using fake information to help sell fuel to NorthKorea in international waters.

The accused allegedly made ship-to-ship transfers of fuel on the high seas tosmuggler vessels on almost two dozen occasions.

They allegedly sold 92 thousand tons of fuel this way, making illegal profitstotalling 1.7 billion NT.

Prosecutors are calling for severe penalties for the suspects, saying thataside from violating international sanctions, they have polluted the oceanand tried to cover up their crimes.

A self-styled biotech expert claimed in print media that taking 3 millilitersof a chemical known as paraquat could help prevent dengue.

Paraquat is highly toxic to humans.

He has been fined 4 thousand NT over his claims.

(EG)

EY Bill on Stamp Tax, Gov't Funding

Posted on 2019-09-12 15:06:13

The Executive Yuan has submitted a bill to scrap the stamp tax.

Aside from doing away with the long-standing tax, the bill also authorizesthe central government to make up the lost revenues to local governments forthe next several years.

The government would pay based on the revenue of 10 to 12 billion NT receivedannually from 2016 to 2018.

A special budget will be required for these funds for next year, as the 2020general budget has already been approved.

The bill will now be sent to lawmakers to review during the coming session.

(EG)

New Taipei Sees 6 Chikungunya Fever Cases

Posted on 2019-09-12 15:06:13

New Taipei health officials are warning residents to clear out mosquitobreeding sites after more cases of Chikungunya fever were recorded.

Six cases of the disease have been confirmed in the city so far this year,the same number of cases as dengue.

Officials say both diseases are spread by mosquitoes, so citizens need to beextra careful about the bugs.

They are urging locals to clean out and put away any containers that couldgather water and turn into mosquito breeding sites.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there have been 64 importedChikungunya cases islandwide this year, a near ten-year-high.

(EG)

Taiwan's Regular Wage Up Over 2.42% in July

Posted on 2019-09-12 15:06:13

The DGBAS says regular wages have been climbing.

According to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statisticsfigures, the regular wage in July rose 2.42 percent compared to the yearbefore.

However, it says that real wages stayed at a similar level as they were at 17years ago after inflationary adjustments.

The DGBAS does note that irregular wages in July soared 62 percent comparedto June as many employers handed out bonuses.

(EG)

Pork Prices Up Ahead of Holiday

Posted on 2019-09-12 15:06:13

Pork prices have gone up ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Pork has climbed by about 5 NT per catty due to high demand ahead of theholiday.

Vegetable prices remain stable, and haven't changed much over the past week.

Agricultural officials remind shoppers that wholesale markets will be closedthis weekend for the holiday, and to stock up today and tomorrow.

(EG)

KMT Lawmakers Blasting Gou for Leaving

Posted on 2019-09-12 14:06:13

KMT lawmakers are blasting Terry Gou for his decision to leave the party.

Lawmaker Tseng Ming-chung says Gou has broken the promises he made to theparty when he joined the party presidential primary.

Tseng says Gou had vowed to support whoever won the primary, even if he lost.

Another party lawmaker, Apollo Chen, says Gou's departure is not surprising,as he only joined the KMT to give legitimacy to his presidential aspirations.

With Gou's leaving the party, lawmakers say the KMT now needs to consolidatethe support for their official candidate, especially from young and neutralvoters.

They say any cooperation with Gou is off the table now.

KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu's office has also issued a statement regarding Gou'sdeparture, saying it regrets and is disappointed by Gou's decision.

(EG)

MOE: Disadvantaged Students Can Seek Financial Assistance

Posted on 2019-09-12 14:06:13

The MOE is reminding disadvantaged students that they can seek financialassistance.

The reminder comes after the Child Welfare League Foundation publishedstatistics showing that two-thirds of disadvantaged families have been unableto pay their chilldrens' tuition before.

The Ministry of Education says that there are financial assistance programsavailable for all levels of schooling, from elementary to university, toensure that children can get an education no matter their financialsituation.

The assistance can take many forms, from free school lunches, after-schooldaycare programs, or funds for textbooks.

If families have fallen on hard times, the Ministry urges parents to get intouch with education officials to see what assistance programs they areeligible for.

(EG)

NPM South Branch Lightshows

Posted on 2019-09-12 14:06:13

The National Palace Museum's southern branch is putting on lightshows towelcome the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Museum officials say, starting tomorrow and lasting for two months, therewill be twice-weekly laser and light shows at the facility.

The shows will take place every Tuesday and Sunday night, every twentyminutes between six and 10 PM.

(EG)

Taiwan Shares Up 37 Points to 10,828

Posted on 2019-09-12 14:06:13

Taiwan shares were up today, as markets across Asia all advanced, adding 37points to end today's trading at 10,828.

The total turnover was $116.5 billion NT.

Solomon Star: China Delegation Returned Empty-handed

Posted on 2019-09-12 13:05:13

A Solomon newspaper says its recent delegation to China returnedempty-handed.

The Solomon Star has now reported that China made no promises to thedelegation during the visit, saying that Honiara must break off ties withTaiwan before they would discuss any development plans.

A diplomatic source told the Star that because of this, nothing substantivewas covered in the meeting with Chinese officials.

This article follows a report by The Australian newspaper quoting newSolomons prime minster Manasseh Sogavare as saying that Taiwan does nothingfor the country, and that China would be a better diplomatic ally.

(EG)

CEC to Set Up Emergency Response Center

Posted on 2019-09-12 13:05:13

The Central Election Commission has issued official bulletins for the 2020general elections.

CEC chairman Li Jin-yong says there will be a total of 17-thousand 232polling stations, over 1-thousand 300 more than before.

The CEC is ready to mobilize 220-thousand workers and hold four nationwidedrills before the January 11 elections to prevent any glitches.

Li also says that the CEC will set up an emergency response center on thatday to deal with unexpected incidents.

More that 19.3 million eligible voters are going to recieve 3 ballots whenthey walk into the polling stations, one for president and vice president,one for preferred political party, and one for their local lawmaker.

The vote for the party will decide how many at-large legislative seats thateach party can get.

Those who plan to run for the presidential election should file theirapplication between Sept. 13 and 17, and complete the collection of280-thousand 384 signatures before November 2nd.

(JL)

KMT's Efforts to Rein in Terry Gou

Posted on 2019-09-12 12:16:13

Business tycoon Terry Gou has announced his withdrawal from the KMT.

Gou's spokesperson Tsai Qin-yu quotes him as saying that the party is puttingits own interests ahead of national interests, which contradict with what hebelieved when he decided to resume his membership in April.

The announcement comes immediately after the KMT's last-minute efforts torein him in.

Honorary KMT chairman Lian Zhan and other party heavyweights have personallysigned a statement urging Gou to cooperate with Han Guo-yu in today's majornewspapers

The statement calls for all members to unify around the KMT presidentialnominee and strive for winning the 2020 general elections.

It also says that if the party is split again, it'll usher in unrest andturbulence to Taiwan.

But the statement, signed by sitting KMT chairman Wu Dun-yi and 29 otherpoliticians and business leaders, has obviously failed to achieve what itmeant to achieve.

Gou met with Ko Wen-zhe and Wang Jin-ping yesterday in an apparentpreparation to announce his candidacy.

Tsai Calling on MAC and SEF to Seek Details of Lee's Detention in China

Posted on 2019-09-12 12:16:13

President Tsai Ing-wen says government agencies that handle cross-strait tiesare taking steps to find out why Pingtung County township adviser MorrisonLee has been detained in China.

According to Tsai, information regarding Lee's whereabouts and the reason forhis arrest is being sought through the existing channels as well as other"avenues of assistance."

Tsai says the government is also seeking assurances from China that Lee'shuman rights and personal safety will be protected.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office has confirmed that the 44-year-old is beinginvestigated on charges of violating national security laws.

Lee last contacted his family on August 20, the same day he was scheduled toleave Hong Kong for Shenzhen.

And the Straits Exchange Foundation says it has sent letters to its Chinesecounterpart seeking information concerning Lee's whereabouts three timessince then.

Lee is an adviser to the Fang-Liao Township and his family believe his arrestis linked to his support for the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.

Heavy Traffic Expected for Mid-Autumn Fest. Tomorrow

Posted on 2019-09-12 12:16:13

The government is expecting heavy traffic for the first day of the Mid-AutumnFestival.

The transport ministry says as tomorrow is the first day of the three-dayweekend, it will see the highest volume of traffic as people return to theirhometowns or go out on vacation.

According to ministry predictions, the worst congestion will be seensouthbound on highway 5, where traffic jams could last as long as 11 hours,from early morning until the afternoon.

The MOTC says delays can also be expected on highways 1 and 3, also fromearly morning until mid-afternoon.

The ministry has prepared measures to help ease some of the congestion,including suspending highway tolls from midnight until 5am, and for certainsections of road enforcing high-occupancy restrictions, allowing travel onthe shoulder, and the closure of some entrances.

Tsai Touts MOFA Efforts on Solomon's Ties

Posted on 2019-09-12 11:47:13

President Tsai Ing-wen says although diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islandsare facing challenges, the government is continuing its efforts to ensurethat cooperation programs between the two sides continue.

The statement comes after Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also admitted that thereare "lingering challenges in the relationship" between Taipei and Honiara.

And according to Wu, a visit to Taiwan this week by Solomon Islands ForeignMinister Jeremiah Manele is part of efforts to address those "challenges."

Despite the government's touting of efforts to ensure that diplomatic tiesbetween the two sides continue, The Australian newspaper has quoted SolomonIslands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as saying Taiwan is "completelyuseless to us."

Sogavare went on to suggest that "China would be a better diplomatic partner."

Memorial in Miaoli for Filipino Factory Worker

Posted on 2019-09-12 11:47:13

A memorial will be held today for a Filipina migrant worker who died lastmonth as a result of a chemical spill at a factory in Miao-Li.

Organizers say the memorial will take the form of a community gathering,aimed not just at remembering Deserie Castro Tagubasi, but also at forginglinks between Taiwanese and migrant workers in Zhu-Nan Township, where shelived.

The 29-year-old Filipina worked at an electronics plant at the Zhu-NanScience Park and died on August 28 as a result of burns after sheaccidentally dropped a container of hydrofluoric acid on her legs.

The electronics plant, which is operated by L-E-D maker Tyntek, is currentlybeing investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration dueto health and safety concerns regarding its operations.

Tai-Ex opening

Posted on 2019-09-12 10:22:13

The Tai-Ex opened up 39-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 10,830on turnover of 2.6-billion N-T.

The market posted moderate gains Wednesday as major Taiwanese suppliers toApple moved higher following the launch of the next-generation iPhones.

However, analysts say turnover was capped as many investors remained on thesidelines due to market sentiment remaining cautious about trade tensionbetween the U-S and China.

Foreign Minister Admits Taipei-Honiara Ties Face Challenges

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:19:13

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says Taiwan is working to help with the nationaldevelopment of the Solomon Islands despite lingering challenges in therelationship between the two sides.

According to Wu, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele visitedTaiwan this week in an effort to address those challenges and Taiwan has alsobeen assisting the Solomons in the areas of health and education.

Wu says the so-called "Taiwan model" of cooperation may not focus on hugesums of money, but its effects can be felt directly by the people in thecountries that are receiving such assistance.

And Wu told reporters that he hopes this Taiwan model will shine in thePacific and solidify state-to-state ties in the region.

The foreign minister's statements come after a report in "The Australian"newspaper claimed that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare hassaid Taiwan is "completely useless to us" and suggested China would be abetter diplomatic partner.

Pingtung to Host Longest Ever 10/10 Fireworks Display

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:19:14

Pingtung County Magistrate Pan Men-an says this year's Double Ten NationalDay fireworks display will last for 42-minutes - making it the longest ever.

According to Pan, the national day fireworks display will take place at OldRailway Bridge Park and preparations are currently underway for the show.

Pan says details about the pyrotechnics show are still being finalized andhis administration is handling all of the logistical aspects of the display,such as transportation and the pre-fireworks show.

County officials say the fireworks will be set off sometime between 7:40 and8 on October 10.

Pingtung last hosted the Double Ten fireworks display 12 years ago.

Government Seeking Details of Morrison Lee's Detention in China

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:13

The government is demanding that Beijing explain why a Taiwanese citizen whowent missing after reportedly crossing the border from Hong Kong into Chinalast month has been detained.

Morrison Lee last contacted his family on August 20, the same day he wasscheduled to leave Hong Kong for Shenzhen.

Presidential Office spokesman Chang Chun-han says the government is deeplyconcerned about Lee's detention.

The statement comes after China's Taiwan Affairs Office confirmed that the44-year-old Hsinchu native is being investigated on charges of violatingnational security laws.

According to Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng, his officeis urging Beijing to provide details about Lee's detention, including wherehe is being detained and why.

Chiu says his office has also asked Beijing to explain the circumstances ofLee's arrest to his family in accordance with a joint cross-straitcrime-fighting agreement.

Lee is an adviser to Pingtung County's Fang-Liao Township and family andfriends say they believe his arrest is linked to his support for the ongoingprotests in Hong Kong.

Defense Report Details Coastal Strategy

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:13

The Ministry of National Defense has released its latest defense report, inwhich it lays out the capability of domestically produced weapons systems,Taiwan's increasing role in regional security and strategies for counteringthe threat posed by China's military.

The 2019 National Defense Report, makes public for the first time themilitary's plans to repel invading Chinese forces along the coast of Taiwanproper as part of the country's new defense strategy adopted by PresidentTsai Ing-wen.

According to the report, while the military has been forced to broaden itsfocal point for repelling a potential Chinese invasion to an outer perimeteralong Taiwan's entire coast line due to China's increased over-the-horizonamphibious assault capabilities.

The report states that larger military vessels are deployed along the outerperimeter in coastal areas as the first line of defense and naval mines andother smaller naval vessels are used as a second line of defense.

Armored vehicles and other weapons systems are positioned to eliminate enemyforces on beach areas in the third line of defense, while aircraft andmissiles are used as further deterrence.

The report is the 15th since the defense ministry began issuing the biennialreport in 1992.

US Ambassador Touts Taiwan's Solomon Ties

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:13

The American ambassador to the Solomon Islands has waded in on concerns thatthe Pacific island nation could be ready to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwanin favor of Beijing.

According to Catherine Ebert-Gray, Taiwan has been an exceptional partner tothe Solomons and the United States supports the continuation of diplomaticrelations between the two countries.

Ebert-Gray says she told Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavareearlier this week that "there would be challenges ahead if his countryswitched diplomatic recognition to China."

Ebert-Gray also says U-S Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of StateMike Pompeo have both warned the Solomon Islands about the danger of fallinginto China's "debt trap" diplomacy as Beijing is likely to use foreign aid toexert its influence there.

However, the ambassador added, a final decision on whether to recognize Chinadiplomatically is a sovereign matter for the Solomon Islands and "is notsomething that the U-S is going to weigh in on."

MOFA Urges Support for South China Sea Freedom of Navigation

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:13

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is calling on all nations in the region torecognize freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea amidBeijing's maritime expansion and militarization efforts in the contestedwaters.

Wu says many countries in the Asia region are concerned about Beijing'soverreaching claims to the South China Sea area, even though they have closeeconomic ties with Beijing and remain quiet on China's actions in the region.

According to Wu, all countries need to recognize freedom of navigation andoverflight in the South China Sea, as if they fail to do so, China will takecontrol of the entire area, "posing a threat to the sovereignty andinternational trade."

Wu went on to say that while Taiwan is unable to join the negotiations on theCode of Conduct for the South China Sea and multilateral meetings such as theASEAN regional forum, it is closely monitoring the developments in thatregard.

Taipei Councilors Slam Ko over Taiwan People's Party

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:13

Taipei city councilors are accusing Mayor Ko Wen-je of using city officialsand resources to help run and organize his new political party.

City councilors from across party lines say Ko has packed his Taiwan People'sParty with his close aides and numerous several city government officials andthey have been busy since early August working for Ko's party and ignoringcity matters.

According to D-P-P Taipei City Councilor Wang Shi-cheng, Ko and the officialsare taking advantage of tax paying Taipei residents and using publicresources for sole benefit of the Taiwan People's Party.

While K-M-T Taipei City Councilor Wang Zhi-ping says Ko has spent the pastmonths either organizing his new political party or acting as if he's goingto run for the presidency as the expense of his actual administrative duties.

There are also calls from within the city council for all of the Taipeiofficials with ties to Ko's party to resign from their posts in order toallay concerns of conflict of interest in regards their party roles and theirduties as city hall officials.

Google to Establish Data Center in Tainan

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:14

Google has announced plans to establish a data center in Tainan.

When completed, it will the company's second data center here in Taiwan afterits first started operations in Changhua in 2013.

Google says it has purchased land in Tainan in preparation for theestablishment of the center following an assessment that picked the city asthe location for the investment.

According to the U-S company, it is grateful for assistance provided by theIndustrial Development Bureau, the Tainan City government, the TainanTechnology Industrial Park and Tai-Power in selecting the location for thecenter.

However, Google has not released any details about the financial terms forthe center.

Construction of Google's Tainan data center is scheduled to begin at the endof this year in the Tainan Technology Industrial Park.

Average Life Expectancy Hits New High

Posted on 2019-09-12 08:17:14

And finally ....

The Ministry of the Interior says the average life expectancy in Taiwan hit anew high of 80.7 years in 2018, with men averaging a record 77.5 years andwomen averaging 84 years.

According to the ministry, the average life span has risen steadily over thepast decade, from 78.6 years in 2008 to 80.7 years in 2018 and that is beingattributed to improved medical services, enhanced food safety awareness,better quality of life and fitness.

The average life expectancy of men and women in Taiwan is higher than theworld average, but lower than in such countries as Japan, Switzerland, Spainand Singapore.

A total of 172,700 people died in Taiwan in 2018, up 672 from 2017 andofficials say hat translated into a crude death rate of 7.32 per 1,000 in2018, up 0.02 per 1,000 people from 2017.

Taipei residents had the longest average life expectancy of 83.63 years in2018, while Taitung County had the lowest average life expectancy at 75.79years.

CEC on 2020 General Elections

Posted on 2019-09-11 19:12:13

The Central Election Commission is set to release official election bulletinstomorrow.

The CEC says the organization will take applications for potentialindependent candidates who would require a petition to run between September13 and 17.

Such candidates can still later receive the backing of a political party.

The CEC says people like Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-zhe, former Legislative SpeakerWang Jin-ping or businessman Terry Gou can all follow one of those two routesto join the presidential election.

Candidates that choose to run as independents will need to apply with the CECno later than the 17th with a down payment of 1 million NT.

They will then need to submit at least 280-thousand 384 signatures beforeNovember 2nd to be eligible for the January 11th election.

The CEC will announce the names of all presidential and vice presidentialcandidates on December 3rd.

(JL)

Average Life Expectancy in Taiwan Hits New High of 80.7 Years in 2018

Posted on 2019-09-11 19:12:13

The average life expectancy in Taiwan hit a new high last year.

The Ministry of the Interior says that number was of 80.7 years, with men andwomen averaging a record 77.5 years and 84 years, respectively.

MOI statistics show the average life span in Taiwan has risen steadily overthe past decade, from 78.6 years in 2008 to the new high in 2018.

The ministry attributes the improvement to improved medical services,enhanced food safety awareness, better quality of life and the growingpopularity of fitness.

Residents in the northern part of Taiwan generally live longer than those inthe south, while those in the west had a longer average life expectancy thantheir counterparts in the east.

The average life expectancy of men and women in Taiwan is higher than theworld average, but the MOI says it's lower than in countries such as Japan,Switzerland, Spain and Singapore.

(PB)

Han Guo-yu's National Policy Advisors

Posted on 2019-09-11 17:06:13

The number of campaign advisors for Han Guo-yu is on the rise.

Chief policy advisor Simon Zhang says the group has now expanded to includeexperts on sports, tourism, Hakka affairs, and indigenous affairs.

Zhang says the KMT presidential nominee plans to enhance the general public'sathletic skills and hold more international sports events here in Taiwan.

For tourism, Zhang says advisors have already proposed innovative policiesthat they believe will propel the tourism industry from its current saggingposition.

Zhang has also formed teams for Hakka and indigenous affairs, with thesegroups' total population standing at 4.8 million.

He notes that the entire advisory group of some 200 experts has met manytimes to go over concrete and feasible policies for Han in the hope ofhelping him build an efficient government after the January election.

(JL)

Vietnamese Mother Arrested for Prostituting Daughter

Posted on 2019-09-11 17:06:13

A Vietnamese mother has been arrested for prostituting her daughter.

The woman reportedly had accumulated over 1 million NT in gambling debts.

She brought her underage daughter from Vietnam to Taiwan, and forced her towork at a Taichung bar as a hostess and sex worker.

The woman also took away her daughter's passport.

The woman has been arrested, as has her boyfriend, a sex customer, twoabsconded Vietnamese laborers, and two other suspects.

(EG)

National Day Fireworks Longest in History

Posted on 2019-09-11 17:06:13

Pingtung County is preparing for the longest National Day fireworks inhistory.

County Magistrate Pan Meng-an says preparations are underway at theJiou-Tie-Chiao Riverside Park for the 42-minute-long show.

Pan says details on the pyrotechnics are still being ironed out by thecentral government, but the county is handling the logisitical aspects of thedisplay, such as transportation and the pre-fireworks show.

The magistrate says the event will also feature the Intel drones thatreceived high praise at the Lantern Festival celebrations earlier this year.

County officials say the fireworks will be set off sometime between 7:40 and8pm.

(NS)

7 Products Warned for Excessive Packaging

Posted on 2019-09-11 15:15:13

Taipei environmental officials are calling out seven products for excessivepackaging.

The officials were examining gifts sets on offer ahead of Friday's Mid-AutumnFestival.

They have reported seven such gift set for wasting material on packaging,including food, cosmetics, and health products.

The manufacturers could be fined up to 150 thousand NT for violating resourceconservation rules.

Environmental officials are urging consumers to avoid excessively packagedproducts, saying there is no need for multiple layers of wrappers, and thatit's the product inside that's important, not the stuff around it.

(EG)

Missing Taiwanese Charged in China

Posted on 2019-09-11 13:57:13

A missing Taiwanese national has been charged in China.

Li Meng-ju has been missing for three weeks now after traveling to Hong Konglast month.

Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office has now announced that he has been arrestedfor engaging in activites that threaten national security.

Li serves as a consultant to a township government in Pingtung, and is vocalonline about his support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

(EG)

MOI Denies Privacy Concerns with New eID

Posted on 2019-09-11 13:57:13

The MOI is denying that there are any privacy concerns with the planned neweIDs.

Scholars and civic groups are worried that the new chipped national ID cardscould endanger the holder's personal data or see it used illegally.

The Ministry of the Interior is downplaying these suspicions, saying the newIDs will have proprietary security features and encryption.

Ministry officials says the data on the card can't be exported or altered,and are absolutely secure.

They also say the chips are passive, like the ones in passports, healthinsurance cards, or credit cards, and holders' location can't be trackedthrough the card.

(EG)

Booking.com Suggests 5 Destinations for Upcoming Holiday

Posted on 2019-09-11 13:57:13

Online travel website Booking.com has some good suggestions for thosepondering on where to go for the long weekend.

Yilan's Zhuang-wei Township, located right in the middle of the county'scoastline, is the best spot for the viewing the famous sunrise with outlyingGui-shan Island as the backdrop.

With a new Zhuang-wei Sand Dune Tourist Center starting operations last year,the place is more attractive than ever as it offers exhibits, tourisminformation and other services for people to relax there.

Another nice and quiet place is Jia-yi county's mountainous Mei-shanTownship. Leaves are turning yellow and red there and there's a Buddhism parkcalled Han-shi-ni that offers spectacular views, delicious meals and locallygrown coffee.

If you're inclined to look for something old, Taichung Wu-feng's Guang-fuVillage maybe your thing. It has kept all the military dormitory-stylehouses, many of which have been turned into stores or cafes.

On holidays there markets for creative handiwork and products from smallfarms nearby.

(JL)

Taiwan Shares

Posted on 2019-09-11 13:57:13

Taiwan shares were higher today as were many other Asian stock marketscheered by a rise on Wall Street.

The Taiex rose 36 points to end the session at 10-thousand 790.

The turnover was 119 billion NT.

MOTC Plans to Delay "Uber Rules"

Posted on 2019-09-11 13:12:13

Hunreds of Angry taxi drivers are driving their cars to surround the Ministryof Transportation today as it plans to delay the time of implementing theso-called "Uber clause."

The proposed Article 103-1 of the Regulations for Automobile TransportationOperators seeks to ban ride-hailing service Uber from running a taxi businessin Taiwan, and the MOTC originally said the clause would take effect onOctober 6th.

However, Uber representatives last week requested more time for them to takethe professional driver's license test, saying that some 8-thousand Uberdrivers have yet to do so because there are not enough test venues.

Transportation Minister Lin Jia-long has asked that the Ministry of theInterior increase the venues and test dates, saying that there should be a"buffer period" before Article 103-1 goes into effect.

The comment immediately enraged taxi drivers, who had complained before thatthe MOTC was dragging its feet in taking action against Uber.

(JL)

New Taipei Announces 'All In One' Long Term Care Centers

Posted on 2019-09-11 13:12:13

New Taipei City is rolling out new long-term care services.

Mayor Hou You-yi has announced the creation of 'all in one' long term carecenters.

There are two of these centers currently planned, one in the old Bi-huamiddle school campus in San-chong district, and next to the Ji-sui middleschool in Zhong-he district.

The Bi-hua center is expected to begin construction in 2021, then open forbusiness in 2025.

The all-in-one centers will provide services for the elderly as well asservices for the community like supermarkets and child daycares.

Aside from these centers, Hou says they plan to increase the city's hospitalbeds by 2-thousand over the next few years, establish 10 smart clinics, andset up remote healthcare services in remote areas.

(EG)

Gou and Ko Meet "Only for Prayer"

Posted on 2019-09-11 11:26:13

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je and former Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou have visited atemple in Hsinchu together and enjoyed a bowl of noodles at a near-by eateryin front the press.

The pair's temple comes amid lingering speculation they could be edgingtowards cooperating in a joint 2020 presidential election bid.

However, speaking to reporters Ko played down that speculation - saying thevisit to the temple was related to the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival - and"people should not read too much into it."

Ko and Gou later visited Ko's family home, where the former Hon Hai chairmangave the Taipei mayor's mother a box of mooncakes.

Gou was also pursued by the press during this morning's visits to the templeand Ko's family home - but he coyly played down any connection between thismorning's meeting and January's election.

CGA Stepping-Up Anti-ASF Operations Ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival

Posted on 2019-09-11 11:26:13

The Coast Guard Administration says it is working with the Council ofAgriculture to step-up checks on packages arriving in Kinmen in ahead of theMid-Autumn Festival holiday.

The joint operation is part of government efforts to strengthen controlsagainst African swine fever.

The Coast Guard Administration says more sniffer dogs are being deployed topackage arrival centers and harbors.

And additional x-ray machines have also been installed.

Officials say the number of packages arriving in Kinmen on a daily basis hasmore then doubled over the past week.

And according to the director emeritus of the Potsdam Institute for ClimateImpact Research, he hopes that the two sides can also foster exchanges onresearch into climate change and its impact on the environment.

Schellnhuber made the comments during a visit to the Ministry of Science inTaipei, where he met with Science Minister Chen Liang-ji to discuss exchangeswith Taiwan on issues related to climate change.

According to Schellnhuber, Taiwan's geographic location and vulnerability tonatural disasters makes it an ideal spot for climate research and theisland's efforts in disaster reduction and emergency preparedness could bestudied by the international community.

High-Speed Rail to be Extended to Pingtung

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:13

Premier Su Tseng-chang says the government has decided to extend thehigh-speed rail line to Pingtung from its current terminus of Zuo-YingStation in Kaohsiung.

According to Su, the decision is in response to calls from local lawmakers,who have long been calling on the central government to extend the railnetwork to the county to boost travel and business.

Speaking during an inspection tour in Pingtung, Su said the move will improvethe islandwide transportation network and further boost the island'scompetitiveness.

Su also dismissed criticism that the announcement is an attempt by thegovernment to boost its support ratings in Pingtung ahead of January'selections, saying the decision had nothing to do with either the presidentialor legislative ballots.

The transport ministry has previously conducted feasibility studies on fourpossible routes, but construction costs and low demand for high speed traintravel in Pingtung have led to questions concerning the business logic ofsuch an extension.

The Premier says the current preferred route is an elevated railway fromZuo-Ying to Pingtung, which will likely take 10 years to complete.

Government Continuing Efforts to Maintain Solomon Islands Ties

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:13

Taiwan's ambassador to the Solomon Islands says every effort is being made tosettle challenges facing diplomatic ties with the South Pacific island-nationamid speculation Honiara could establish formal relations with China.

According to Oliver Liao, while there are issues related to diplomatic tieswith the Solomon Islands, the embassy there is continuing to take steps tomaintain close ties with its ally.

Liao says the embassy will pull out all the stops and that he is cautiouslyoptimistic about maintaining stable diplomatic relations with the Solomons.

The ambassador also says the foriegn ministry is reviewing all possiblefactors that can help Taiwan maintain diplomatic relations with the Solomonswhich include seeking assistance from the South Pacific country's traditionaldiplomatic allies.

Those allies include the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The Taiwan Association for Human Rights is calling for a review of governmentplans to issue new electronic identification cards next year - saying thecards pose concerns about invasion of privacy.

The call comes after the Cabinet last month approved a plan to issueso-called e-ID cards that are embedded with an electronic chip for storingdigital personal information from October of next year.

The association says the new electronic identification cards could be used bythe government to track people's lives and there are no guarantees that datastored on the card's chip will be safe.

The association also says the government has failed to fully explain how thenew cards will work or what information will be stored on them.

The Ministry of the Interior says data stored on the e-ID's chips will beprotected by a legal framework and strict conditions will be in place tolimit access and use of all data stored there.

Canadian Warship Transits Taiwan Strait

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:13

The Ministry of National Defense and the Canadian representative office inTaipei have confirmed that a Canadian warship recently sailed through theTaiwan Strait, in what is a rare passage by a non-American military vessel.

Neither the ministry or the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei are providing anyadditional information on when transit took place, by say it was carried outby the H-M-C-S Ottawa and Taiwan's military was fully aware of the situation.

Local media reports say the vessel passed through the Taiwan Strait lastTuesday.

And the Canadian representative office says the Royal Canadian Navy has "longoperated in the Asia Pacific region" and "the most practical route betweenSouth Korea and Thailand involves sailing through the Taiwan Strait."

According to the defense ministry, the transit through the Taiwan Strait wascarried out under Canada's policy of "freedom of navigation."

Two Canadian Navy vessels last transited through the strait in June.

Police to Scrap DUI Arrest Quotas

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:14

The National Police Agency says it will stop using drunk driving relatedarrests as a performance indicator for its officers and will push for stifferpenalties for D-U-I offenders.

The statement follows an August 28 fatal accident while a police officer waschasing a D-U-I suspect who had refused to comply when he was pulled over bypolice.

The police officer, Hsueh Ding-yueh of the New Taipei Xi-Zhi Precinct crashedinto a road divider and died later head injuries.

Hsueh's fiance posted an emotional message on Facebook following the office'sdeath, calling on President Tsai Ing-wen to institute reforms regardingpolice performance indicators.

According to the National Police Agency, it will abolish arrest quotas andthat the number of D-U-I arrests will no longer be used as a performanceindicator for police officers.

Enterovirus Cases Increasing

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:14

The Centers for Disease Control says enterovirus cases are continuing toincrease - with nearly 20,000 people seeking outpatient or emergencytreatment at hospitals for infections last week.

According to health officials, a total of 19,254 patients sought treatmentfrom between September 1 and 7.

And that figure was the highest over the same period in nearly five years.

The C-D-C says there were two severe cases recorded last week, one of whichinvolved an 8-month-old girl and the other a 4-year-old boy, both in centralTaiwan.

The two children are now reported in stable condition after treatment.

A total of 303 cases of enterovirus-71, the most severe enterovirus strain,have been reported so far this year, while 36 cases with severe complicationshave been recorded nationwide, including 27 EV-71 cases since January.

StarLux to Start Services to Macau, Penang and Da Nang on January 23

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:14

StarLux Airlines says it's planning to start services with flights to threeAsian destinations on January 23 next year.

According to airline spokesman Nieh Kuo-wei, the carrier is planning tooffer flights to Macau, Penang in Malaysia and Da Nang in Vietnam for theLunar New Year holiday on its first day of services.

Nieh say the carrier will operate daily flights to the three Asian cities inthe initial phase and then extend its reach to other destinations inSoutheast Asia and cities in North Asia.

The airline spokesman also says StarLux hopes ticket bookings for the threeroutes will start by the end of this year, although an exact timeframe willnot be set until approval has been secured from the Civil AeronauticsAdministration.

StarLux Airlines was founded in May 2018 by former EVA Airway's chairmanChang Kuo-wei.

Taiwan Loses Second 2022 World Cup Qualifier

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:14

Taiwan's national soccer team has lost its second 2022 World Cup qualifier2-0 to Nepal in front of 4,780 fans at the Taipei Stadium.

Team coach Louis Lancaster says the "team is disappointed, but will doeverything it can to analyze the game and make reviews to come backstronger."

Taiwan lost to Jordan 2-1 in its 2022 campaign opener last Thursday.

And it next plays Australia on October 15.

Health Experts Warn that Mooncakes Should be Eaten in Moderation

Posted on 2019-09-11 08:36:14

And finally ......

A nutritionist and health expert is advising the public to makehealth-conscious food choices during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday,particularly with regard to mooncakes, which she says should be eaten inmoderation.

According to Hua-Fan University professor Yang Ling-ling, one mooncaketypically contains 500 to 1,000 calories, which is equivalent to two bowls ofrice.

And Yang says it's better to eat slices of mooncake, rather than a whole oneeach time, to avoid a high calorie intake.

Yang also says small servings of mooncake can also be complemented withslices of cucumber, pineapple, banana, and other nutrient-rich fruits andvegetables, depending on people's tastes.